The news about Wednesday was a great shock for Tuesday. Before the Morrow Days' betrayal, before their curse, he had been very close to her. He recalled Dawn's playful teasing about her, and he winced with an older grief. Dawn was gone too. That was also his fault.
In fact, every Denizen that he had once, long ago, regarded as a friend was now dead, or shunned him for what he had become. He had slain his own Dawn, Noon, and Dusk; or as good as. And Monday's Dusk, who had become Noon – Tuesday knew he could never face him now. He had been responsible for the destruction of someone Dusk loved more than any other. He hadn't understood then, why losing Dawn could so greatly upset Dusk and drive the usually mild, quiet, reasonable Denizen into wild fury. But now that Wednesday was dead, he did understand; and it was too late for both of them.
His companions tried to console him, but he only shook his head. "I did not curse her; it was Saturday's decision," he said. "But I could have tried to stop them. I could have at least tried…"
Tirus shook his head. "I am sorry," he said, knowing there was nothing more he could tell his friend.
Then Rila, a former soldier in the Great Maze, spoke quietly. "I… heard stories… strange stories… on my trip to the Border Sea three days ago. They say…" She frowned, not sure if she should tell this to Tuesday, and then slowly said: "They say they've seen her." Her eyes met his. "There could still be hope," Rila whispered.
Tuesday let out a small gasp, seemingly unable to speak, and his face softened. Abruptly he turned and walked into the darkness. Tirus looked at Rila rather reproachfully. "Should you have told him that?" he said in a low voice. "You know they're probably just superstitious rumors… you know how Border Sea Denizens can act."
"Yes," said Rila, smiling sadly. "But a small hope is better than none at all. Besides, the way they spoke… I wouldn't be surprised if these rumors were true."
After a few days, Tuesday was surprised by Tirus, who handed him a large parcel. "It's an order of Accelerated Coal for the Raised Rats," said the Denizen. "Could you deliver it?" He smiled slightly, and Tuesday realized he was trying to give him an excuse to visit the Border Sea, to explore the rumors surrounding Wednesday's death. His face brightened slightly.
"Of course," he said, taking the package.
"I have the permits for you," Tirus said as they walked toward the elevator. "You'll be able to stay as long as needed." He stepped back as Tuesday entered the small chamber. "Good luck."
Upon arrival at Port Wednesday, Tuesday started looking for the Rats' onshore representative. After several false trails and three Denizens attempting to recruit him, he found her. She was tinkering with some noisy, complicated-looking machinery aboard an old steamboat which was anchored in the harbor. "What d'ye want?" she roared in a voice that belied her small size. "Can't ye see I'm busy?"
"I have a delivery for the Raised Rats!" Tuesday shouted back over the noise of the Rat's machine. He waved his package in the air. "It's an order of Accelerated Coal from the Far Reaches!"
Shutting off the power to her engine, the Rat jumped nimbly to shore. She looked him up and down, then suddenly stepped back with a sharp gasp. "Grim Tuesday, sir!" She gave a quick bow.
Tuesday wined. He had hoped that nobody would recognize him. "Just Tuesday," he said quietly. "And… don't call me sir."
"You're changed, ain't you?" said the Rat, and she nodded several times. "T'name's Grayfurre. Come inside."
Tuesday followed her inside the cabin of the steamboat. The tall Denizen had to bend almost double to fit through the door. Grayfurre looked faintly amused. "Sorry our ships ain't built to fit you Denizens," she said. "But you know that. You…"
"Designed them, yes, I know," said Tuesday. They sat down at a table and Tuesday had to crouch down even more. He passed the bundle to Grayfurre. "Here's your order."
She took it and examined, frowning, the slip of paper that Tirus had tucked inside. "The Nautilus? Amazing timing," she muttered.
"What is it?" asked Tuesday.
"The Rattus Nautilus ran out of fuel just a week ago," she said. "At least, their sorcerer sent a quick message just after their bottle broke. He wasn't very good at it," she added wryly. "Hardly understandable at all. But we managed to gather that they'd almost sunk near the Line of Storms and are now beached on Echo Island. Seems ye've come at the right time, Tuesday."
"So how will we get it to them?" Tuesday asked.
Grayfurre looked at him quizzically. "Probably by taking one of our own ships that's at anchor now, or maybe hiring a Denizen crew if nobody's ashore at the moment," she said. "But why do you ask?"
Tuesday's heart sank as he realized that Grayfurre obviously counted on him wanting to come along with her. "Well, it's… I mean, it's my delivery," he said hastily. "I want to be there and make sure it reaches its destination safely."
"I see," said Grayfurre, clearly taken aback by this honorable attitude. Tuesday could understand why. Previously, he never would have treated such a simple delivery with such a serious manner. In fact, unless the recipient was someone of extreme importance, he never would have made a delivery in person at all.
"Well," said Grayfurre, breaking Tuesday out of his reverie, "I suppose it would do no harm to have you along. Might be useful, seeing as you're a Superior Denizen and I'm nothin' in most Denizens' estimation. Besides, if there are passage fees to be paid…"
Tuesday caught the significant look she was giving him. "I'll see what I can do," he said. "But I can't promise much, I'm afraid. I'm not exactly the richest Denizen around," he added gently.
Grayfurre looked curious at this statement, but Tuesday did not elaborate, and the Rat did not question him. "Well, come on. If nobody's still at the port, it may take a while to find passage."
They wandered through the port town, making an unlikely-looking pair. Grayfurre chattered to the Denizen about Border Sea life, the Raised Rats, Scalvagers, Pirates, and a dozen other topics. Tuesday listened with half an ear, paying attention mainly to the activity around them. He hadn't been to the Border Sea in millennia, and it was somehow comforting. He had good memories of this place, memories that did not shame him like his memories of his own Far Reaches.
"Ah, this will save us some time," said Grayfurre suddenly, breaking off her seemingly endless stream of chatter, and springing into a nimble bow. "If you could spare a moment, ma'am?" she said, and it occurred to Tuesday that she was no longer addressing him. He looked up from her to meet the narrowed eyes of a tall and beautiful woman, clearly a Superior Denizen, her golden hair pulled into a tight bun. She turned to them and stepped forward, frowning slightly and completely ignoring the Raised Rat's presence, her gaze fixed on Tuesday.
"Grim Tuesday," she greeted him, nodding curtly.
"Wednesday's Dawn," he returned, giving a slight bow.
"What are you doing here?" Dawn's voice was sharp and her eyes bright with suspicion. Even before the breaking of the Will, she'd never liked him, Tuesday remembered.
"Delivering an order of Accelerated Coal. We seek passage to Echo Island." Tuesday indicated the bag he carried as he spoke.
"I see. And why would the Master of the Far Reaches bother himself with such a simple delivery as this?"
Tuesday's expression darkened. "Do not mock me," he whispered, hardly audible in the noisy, crowded street. "I am no more a Trustee than your own former mistress. You know as well as I do who governs the Far Reaches now, and I am glad to put those days behind me."
Dawn nodded. "Fair enough," she said. "This not being official business, I simply can't just give you a ship. However, I believe I can direct you to one that will carry you to your destination… for the proper price."
Grayfurre (whom Dawn still had apparently not seen) shot a very meaningful look at Tuesday, which he understood at once. Surreptitiously the Denizen began digging in his pockets, while bowing slightly and saying, "Thank you for your help, Dawn." He nodded in the direction of the harbor, and Dawn strode off toward it, her boots clicking on the cobblestone street. Tuesday and Grayfurre hurried after.
Dawn showed them to a slightly dingy-looking and rather small ship, anchored in the harbor. Skepticism was etched all over Grayfurre's face, but Tuesday kept his expression impassive. "Thank you for your help," he told the woman, bowing again.
She nodded and turned to leave, then paused, looking back at the man. "I hope you're not here chasing after one of those ridiculous rumors, Tuesday," she said in a rather frosty tone. "Milady is dead. There can be no truth to these stories." Abruptly, she turned and walked away.
(T.B.C.)